Principal or Senior Principal Network and Communications Field Service Engineer - R10215958-36

Principal or Senior Principal Network and Communications Field Service Engineer – R

Join Northrop Grumman as a Principal or Senior Principal Network and Communications Field Service Engineer at RAAF Base Edinburgh near Adelaide, Australia. In this role you will provide real‑time support for flight operations and maintenance of MQ‑4C Triton network and communications systems at a Forward Operating Base.

The initial assignment is a 9/80 shift; as the program matures shifts may become 12‑hour shifts that could include nights, weekends, and/ or holidays. The selected candidate will work full‑time on‑site in Australia and may be required to travel up to 50 % of the time once in the final location. Before international deployment the employee will be on a temporary domestic assignment and will report to our San Diego, CA site daily while clearance, visa, and other documents are processed.

• Provide real‑time support for flight operations and maintenance, addressing all communications and networking issues, including fault isolation, remediation, and resolution.
• Perform field integration, troubleshooting, and repair of communications and data link systems in a military flight test environment.
• Adhere to checklists and procedures to ensure repeated success and provide red‑lines to procedures when necessary.
• Communicate complex technical issues to local support, the Degrader Action Cell (DAC), Main Operation Bases (MOBs), and Responsible Engineers (REs).
• Support and lead air crew engagement to solve technical problems during operations.
• Assist with trend analysis as needed for Responsible Engineers.
• Review and analyze supplier design data and define functional test requirements, including acceptance, qualification, and system integration.
• Test, maintain, and integrate communications and networks equipment, including radio terminals, software loads, switches, routers, and firewalls required to support ground and flight test operations.
• Work with system administrators, maintainers, and onsite personnel to troubleshoot and repair internal operational issues.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 5 years of related engineering experience, or Master’s Degree and 3 years, or PhD and 1 year.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) certification.
• Competence in Linux, troubleshooting, engineering documents, tools and equipment.
• Familiarity with comms/networking operations.
• Ability to support assignment at RAAF Base Edinburgh for a minimum of 18 months.
• Pass a new‑hire physical if required for an OCONUS location.
• Active DoD Top Secret clearance (or enrolled in Continuous Evaluation).
• Ability to obtain and maintain SCI access.
• Ability to obtain a CI Polygraph.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Special Access Program clearance.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a STEM discipline and 8 years of related engineering experience, or Master’s Degree and 6 years, or PhD and 4 years.
• Same certifications and security requirements as above.

• Active DoD 8140 approved IAT Level II (or higher) certification.
• Technical expertise in all areas of network and computer hardware/software interconnection.
• Experience with test equipment: network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators.
• CCNA certification.
• Experience with communication technologies such as IP networks, VoIP, IA, satellite, LOS RF, control interfaces, and co‑site interference.
• Operations and Maintenance experience at a field site.

Primary Level Salary Range: $85,600.00 – $. Secondary Level Salary Range: $ – $. These ranges are general guidelines; final offers will depend on scope, responsibilities, and applicant qualifications.

Northrop Grumman offers a variety of benefits, including health insurance, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid holidays, and PTO. Compensation may also include overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and long‑term incentives for senior leaders.

The application period for this posting is estimated at 20 days, but the timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs. U.S. citizenship is required for all positions requiring government clearance. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, visit